Popsicle AR2 Posted January 9, 2020 Report Share Posted January 9, 2020 So I finally got the cloth surround woofers out of my AR2s this morning and was expecting to find corroded ceramic pots, but instead I found what appear to me to be more modern aluminum cased pots. I'm getting little to no sound from my two cross-firing mids and absolutely no variance in sound when I adjust the knob, so I figured I'd just go in and clean up the ceramic pots I was expecting to find. So now what? I guess just replace these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted January 9, 2020 Report Share Posted January 9, 2020 Do they look like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2020 Yes! Are these what are called "L" pads maybe?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted January 9, 2020 Report Share Posted January 9, 2020 Don't know. I've seen these inside Heathkit versions of AR speakers, but the schematics that came with the speakers showed them as pots rather than l-pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxho Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Those are indeed original AR-2 pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Thank you dxho! Would you (or anyone else) have a recommendation as to what to replace them with if I'm trying to get as close as possible to their original sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Roy is the expert on that so maybe send him a PM but I’m thinking keep them. Do they sound ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 No. Little to no variation as I move the knob from mids to woofer. It looks like from a rely from dxho that I have original AR2 pots, and I was expecting those oil-filled capacitor boxes. So what are these silver things and can they be reliably used as an indicator of the date of these AR2s? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Can you post pics of your pots and caps? Resize them to about 100KB or so Maybe a pic of the label too, or at least give us a serial number. The AR-2 was introduced in 1956. The 2a was 1960 but they continued to make the 2 for a while I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 I'll work on pics, but the box has the word "Pyramid" and "2X2" on the side. There's some old tape around the box which I'm afraid to remove. The serial # is probably under there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Interesting thread here Unfortunately many of the photos are missing but there IS a pic of the pot and capacitor that should match yours and there are some clues for how to determine the date of manufacture. Bummer about the tape over the label. And a very interesting article about AR history by (former) CSP member Andrew Hayden here: http://www.antiqueradio.com/Oct06_Hayden_Acoustic.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Nice article and helpful thanks! Serial numbers on the cabinets are B46868 and B46871. and they DO have the two digit Thorndike St zip code of 41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle AR2 Posted January 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 Are these pots ceramic inside the metal covers, which I could take off and clean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted January 11, 2020 Report Share Posted January 11, 2020 13 hours ago, Popsicle AR2 said: Are these pots ceramic inside the metal covers, which I could take off and clean? No...but the AR-2 level control is only providing variable resistance (up to 10 ohms) in series with the high frequency driver, which is why only 2 of the 3 terminals of the control are used. Since it is doubtful the control would be used much below the maximum setting, you could easily replace it with the more common 15 ohm pot or a new 8 ohm L-pad. Since you would only be connecting the series leg either type of control will not change anything electrically, and will provide the appropriate amount of high frequency attenuation. Most users set the controls at maximum (no series resistance at all) or just off maximum. Also check the woofers' surround and spider mounting rings. They are very often loose or detached due to degraded adhesive. Send me a PM if you need assistance locating and assembling the appropriate replacement caps (if necessary) and level controls. Edit: I just read your other thread regarding the same speakers. You probably do not need to replace the capacitors. Photos would be helpful... Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.